John 16:7 ESV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 16:7-15

As it was usual with the Old Testament prophets to comfort the church in its calamities with the promise of the Messiah (Isa. 9:6; Mic. 5:6; Zech. 3:8); so, the Messiah being come, the promise of the Spirit was the great cordial, and is still. Three things we have here concerning the Comforter's coming:-- I. That Christ's departure was absolutely necessary to the Comforter's coming, John 16:7. The disciples were so loth to believe this that Christ saw cause to assert it with a more than... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 16:5-11

16:5-11 "I did not tell you these things at the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going away to him who sent me, and none of you asks me: 'Where are you going?' But grief has filled your hearts because I have spoken these things to you. But it is the truth I am telling you--it is to your interest that I should go away, for If I do not go away the Helper will not come to you. But when he has come, he will convict the world of sin, and convince it of righteousness and judgment;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 16:7

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth ,.... Christ was truth itself, and could say nothing else; but he makes use of this way of speaking, to raise the attention of his disciples, and to engage their belief of what he was about to say, and of which they were not easily persuaded; which was, that however overwhelmed they were with grief and sorrow, because of his going away from them, a greater truth he could not tell them, than that this would be to their real good and advantage: it is... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 16:7

It is expedient - that I go away - In other places he had showed them the absolute necessity of his death for the salvation of men: see Matthew 20:19 ; Matthew 26:2 ; Mark 9:31 ; Mark 10:33 , Luke 9:44 ; Luke 18:32 . This he does not repeat here, but shows them that, by the order of God, the Holy Spirit cannot come to them, nor to the world, unless he first die; and consequently men cannot be saved but in this way. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 16:7

Verse 7 7.Yet I tell you the truth. That they may no longer wish to have him present before their eyes, he testifies that his absence will be advantageous, and makes use of a sort of oath; for we are carnal, and consequently nothing is more difficult than to tear from our minds this foolish inclination, by which we attempt to draw down Christ from heaven to us. He explains where the advantage lies, by saying that the Holy Spirit could not be given to them, if he did not leave the world. But far... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:5-11

The rectory of the disciples. Jesus now describes the power which will gain their victory over the world. I. THE POWER WHICH WILL GIVE THE VICTORY . 1. The disciples were too absorbed by the sorrows of the approaching separation to think of anything but themselves . "But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? Bat because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart." 2. The expediency of his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:7

Though you are crushed with a sense of your approaching bereavement, and so imperfectly apprehend the conditions of your future power and the method which it is incumbent upon me to adopt for your consolation and the completion of my earthly work, nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is wonderful that he who is the Truth itself should have needed, in such various forms, to have reiterated and affirmed the supreme right he possessed to claim their acceptance of his veracity. The truth, then,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:7

The advantages of Christ's departure. The world enjoyed many benefits by reason of Christ's presence: he healed the sick, and taught the ignorant, and was a kind, wise, and faithful Friend to all men. How much more were the disciples of Jesus indebted to that presence! His intimate friends owed their all, their very selves, to him, and could not look forward to losing him without dismay. "My Savior, can it ever be, That I should gain by losing thee?" Yet our Lord taught that it was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:7

The expediency of Christ ' s departure . We shall elucidate the truths of the text by the following remarks. I. THAT THE MISSION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS ESSENTIAL TO THE GREAT PLAN OF REDEMPTION . "The Comforter will not come," implying that his coming was essential to the carrying on of the good work in them and through them. 1. As the Divine Revealer . Christ revealed the Father; the Spirit was to reveal Christ. This revelation involves: 2.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:7

Absent in the body, present by the Spirit. I. THE NEED OF A STRONG ASSERTION . Jesus says, "I tell you the truth." Jesus never says anything but the truth, and yet we can see here clearly what need there was for the most solemn and emphatic mode of statement. For what an antecedent improbability there was that his absence could ever be better than his presence! For him to vanish from the natural sight of his disciples might well be reckoned the greatest of calamities, until... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 16:7-15

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 16:5-11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 16:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 16:7

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 16:7

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:5-11

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:7

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:7

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:7

The Pulpit Commentary - John 16:7

Group of Brands